Status of medicinal and aromatic plants in - Inia

SUMMARY REPORT OF THE MEETING 9
- Data format
It was agreed that the data format should ensure compatibility with the EURISCO catalogue,
i.e. FAO/IPGRI Multi-crop passport descriptors (second version, Dec. 2001 6 ) with the
6 additional descriptors defined for EURISCO. 7
- Financial support
The Group agreed that the creation of the database is not possible without financial support.
Funding opportunities from international organizations (FAO, EC, etc.) or pharmaceutical
companies which might be interested in MAP genetic resource conservation will be explored
by the Chair of the WG.
Ernst Schneider kindly offered to assist in establishing contacts with potential donors
from the pharmaceutical industry in Germany and his offer was accepted.
• Short-term tasks
Election of the Chair and Vice-Chair
Before establishing the workplan for short-term activities, the Group considered it necessary
to identify the Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson who would be responsible for ensuring the
progress of the workplan and coordination between the WG members until the end of the
next meeting of the Working Group. Dea Baričevič was elected as Chairperson and Jenő
Bernáth was elected as Vice-Chairperson, both receiving warm congratulations from the
Group for their contribution to this first meeting of the WG.
Selection of a list of priority species/genera
The Group agreed that it should concentrate its short-term activities on a small number of
species/genera of importance to all and considered as needing urgent attention. A list of
priority species /genera will be elaborated according to the workplan indicated below.
The methodology developed for these priority species/genera (e.g. inventory of existing
material in situ and ex situ, definition of characterization descriptors, establishment of a
database, etc.) will serve as a model for other species and will encourage appropriate
activities to be carried out on MAPs at national level.
Workplan
1. Each country representative will send a list of 30 species/genera important at national
level to the Vice-Chair of the WG by the end of October 2002. The list should be
accompanied by background information on the selection criteria used.
2. After analyzing the national lists received, the Vice-Chair will select 10 species/genera
and will circulate this priority list to all WG members by the end of December 2002. 8
Note: the identification of the priority species will take in consideration (i) the CITES convention 9 ;
and (ii) the subregional distribution of the species/genera in order to ensure a balanced geographical
distribution.
6 FAO/IPGRI's Multi-crop passport descriptors (version 2, December 2001) are available on-line
(http://www.ipgri.cgiar.org/system/page.asp?frame=catalogue/select.asp).
7 The document EURISCO Descriptors for uploading information from National Inventories to EURISCO
was distributed at the meeting. The descriptors are also available on-line
(http://www.ecpgr.cgiar.org/epgris/Tech_papers/EURISCO_Descriptors.doc).
8 Update at time of publication: the list of priority species has been elaborated and circulated to all
members by the Vice-Chair (Appendix I).
9 Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora
(http://www.cites.org).